Father accused of kidnapping in custody in California

Aaron Young with his children on Halloween 2016. (Source: Aaron Young)

OSCEOLA, AR (WMC) -

Officials said a man charged with kidnapping his two children is in custody in California.

Osceola Police Department issued an arrest warrant on two counts of kidnapping for Aaron Young. He was arrested by police in South Sacramento, California.

Aaron Jr. and Aaerion Young, the two missing children, are safe. Investigators said their mother died a short time ago and they were living with family members. Those family members said they allowed Young to visit the children, but they didn't expect him to take them.

Young contacted WMC Action News 5 by phone to tell his side of the story. He says he took his children, because he thought it was time to step up and be a man.

"When I lost their mother, it woke me up," Young said. "You've got to step up; you've got to be a man now."

Young said he is in Sacramento with his children. He said they're happy, healthy, and working to move on with their lives.

Osceola Police Chief David Gladden said officers are actively trying to serve the warrants and get the children back to Arkansas.

"A father having his kids, when their mother has passed, do y'all consider that kidnapping?" Young asked.

Gladden said he does not believe the children are in danger.

"They don't believe he has any intention of harming them, but he just does not have a legal right to take these kids and leave with them," Gladden said.

Young said he plans to fight the kidnapping warrants from California. He said he's trying to do the right thing by his children and by their mother.